Today has been a good day folks. I had chili for dinner, the Ohio State Buckeyes beat Michigan, and this story now has nearly 1500 views! Wow! Thank you guys so much for all of the support, I'll keep on giving you guys the best work I can possibly give. Now then, without further ado, chapter 14!

The Dark Fairy

Chapter 14

The mechanical breathing rasped through the dark tunnel as the heavy metal door groaned upwards thanks to an aging lift system. Light from the the land outside streamed through the entryway as the doors were hoisted upwards. Outside the land was revealed to be that of a massive desert. The entire landscape was nothing more than sand dunes climbing hundreds of feet into the dry air and dry rocky cliffs descending into dusty valleys below. Standing in the doorway, shadowed out by the blinding light that was entering the tunnel, was a lone figure clad in black armor. His mechanical breathing echoing with a steady rhythm around the tunnel.

The figure strode powerfully forward. He had no time to waste. As his powerful form moved forward two guards waddled up to him. They were ugly creatures, resembling fat deformed pigs walking on thick muscular legs, and bearing tusks that were sharper than a razor's edge. Their green skin was covered in a thin layer of dirt, slime, and wisps of hair. Both of the guards carried a strange weapon that resembled an axe. They grunted as they moved forward, intent on blocking the path of this man in black. They stood a few feet away from the dark figure and crossed their spear shaped axes in front of him. The figure stopped moving, his mechanical breathing the only sound in the tunnel.

*SNAP* *CRUNCH*

The guards fell limply to the ground and their axes clattered against the stone floor. The figure let his hand fall back to his side. He hated those creatures. Ever since he could remember he hated them. He looked side to side admiring his handiwork before striding forwards once again. As he made his way down the dark tunnel he heard the enormous metal door groan and shut behind him, taking any light with it. The groaning door faded into the background and the silence that followed was soon replaced by the sound of festive party music. The figure moved towards an dimly illuminated doorway and strode into a large room.

Needless to say as soon as he stepped in the music and dancing came to a screeching halt. Murmurs broke out among the numerous alien species that were present in the large room. Each species speaking a language the figure knew all too well, and wished to forget. But standing out above all of the strangely colored and arranged alien figure was a massive slug like creature whose enormous mass rested on a bed of pillows and slime near the center of the room.

"Coo turned ovv myo music?" rumbled the sluglike figure as it's tail twitched.

A humanoid alien with a large pale antenna wrapped around its shoulders and bloodshot eyes raced over to the slug and pointed to the dark figure striding towards the center of the room with his pale fingers and grimy long claws. The black armored and masked figure stopped and stood in front of the massive slug.

"Jabba." the dark figure said with disdain hidden in his tone.

"Why would doe Empire be unko?" the crime lord that was the slug, Jabba the Hut, rumbled.

"I'm here on a mission. I need your two best bounty hunters." stated the masked man firmly before his mechanical breathing filled the silence in the room.

Jabba the Hut began to chuckle and his low rumbling laughter made the audience around him slightly nervous. They knew full well who was standing in front of their boss. And their fear was plain to see.

"U are noleeya noah position tah make demands, jedai."

The figures gaze narrowed on the slug in front of him. Suddenly the slug's eyes widened and his fatty arms clawed at what must've been his throat.

"I am no Jedi, Hut." growled the figure, "Now then, you will do as I say. Or you will find that the Emperor isn't the only one you should fear."

The pressure around the Hut's throat lightened and the slug coughed for air.

"Do you understand?"

If the fat slug could nod he would've done it quickly. He wasn't able to, but the figure could sense that he had gained the crime lord's cooperation.

"Who are your two best bounty hunters?"

….

Darth Vader waited beside a large imperial shuttle as two figures strode up to him. One was a blue looking alien with tubes coming out of his cheeks. Obviously a form of a breathing apparatus. He wore a large black hat, resembling something from an old western on top of his thin head. On the aliens hips rested two blasters, holstered and cleaned to perfection. The other beside him was a shorter man clad in full green armor with several scratches and dents in it. On this figure's back was a jet pack with a rocket jutting up from the top. The masked figure recognized the armor. It was mandalorian. And he recognized the alien as well. His eyes narrowed under his mask. How he despised the blue creature walking towards him. He was much older than he last saw him, but the man had to admit, this alien knew how to get a job done.

"You the client?" asked the blue alien with pupiless red eyes. His voice was had a slight twang to it.

"Indeed, Cad Bane." replied Vader. No emotion in his voice whatsoever. He looked at the shorter armored figure who hid his face behind the mandalorian helmet, "Fett." The other figure silently nodded at him, "The Empire requests your services."

"Who do you want taken out?" asked Cad Bane as he crossed his thin arms.

"Not taken out, found." replied Vader.

"Can't you get some soldiers to do the finding." said Cad Bane dismissively.

Vader glared at the blue alien.

"Where is the target, and how do we find him?" Boba Fett interjected with a gravelly voice.

"That is why I requested you two. We don't know where the target is. Only a possible location."

Vader pulled out a silver disk. A blue light lit up above it showing a planet both Cad Bane and Boba Fett had never seen before. And that was saying something, they had been to plenty of planets.

"This is what the planet may look like."

"You expect us to find something based on what the place might look like?" Bane replied. "Sounds like a wild bantha chase to me."

"Do you question what the Emperor has ordered?" said Vader threateningly causing Cad Bane's red eyes to widen slightly.

"Not at all."

"Possible area of the planet?" asked Boba Fett.

"It's not charted. So the planet is most likely in the unknown regions beyond the Rishi Maze or in the Western portion of the galaxy. Far beyond the outer rim." The hologram faded away and Vader pocketed the device, "When you find the planet, contact me immediately. I will send you further orders from there."

"The reward better be good for this one." muttered Bane.

"Don't worry Cad Bane," Vader said as he turned to enter his shuttle, "Your reward will be worth the effort."

The shuttle lifted off of the sandy planet and with a blast of energy lifted away from the surface of the desert planet. Cad Bane frowned and looked over at his counterpart.

"How do you want to play this?"

"I'll be taking the area beyond the Rishi maze." replied Fett almost as automatically as a machine would.

"That leaves me with the unknown regions in the western portion of the galaxy." grumbled Bane, his long fingers tapping on his arms, "Fine," he glared at Boba Fett, "but I better get a larger cut out of this."

….

"Hey Wendy!" yelled Joshua as he sprinted through the Worth Woodsea towards where he saw the blue haired girl and her cat fall from the sky.

Joshua stopped and cupped his hands around his mouth.

"Wendy! Where are you!?"

Joshua then shook his head, "The hell am I doing? I got my sensory magic." He closed his eyes, "Work smarter not harder." he focused letting his magic spread out. Within a few moments Joshua opened his eyes, "Found you!"

He picked up the pace as the trees breezed by him. It wasn't long until he found Wendy knocked out beside a small stream. Joshua raced up to her and placed a hand on her neck. He felt her pulse throbbing underneath his fingers and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Tougher than you look huh?"

Joshua then felt his attention be taken away. He could sense it, someone was coming. Joshua requiped his sword and stood over Wendy and Carla's unconscious forms. His eyes narrowed as he scanned his surroundings. They were coming in fast. He recognized who he was sensing now. They had found him that quickly!?

"Haha!" shouted the member of the Oracion Seis named Racer as he sprinted out of the tree lines at break neck speeds, "You can't outrun me kid!"

Joshua's eyes widened as Racer's forearm clotheslined him. Joshua hit the ground and felt his head whiplash back into the earth. He grunted, seeing spots in his vision. He glanced foggily over at Wendy and saw Racer heave her over his shoulder.

"Mission accomplish." said Racer triumphantly.

He bent his legs and took off… only to run into an invisible wall once again. He face squished up against the wall and his grip on Wendy loosened, causing her to fall back into the grass around them. Racer rubbed his nose again and felt it move slightly.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" he shouted angrily before glancing back at Joshua to see the kid's hand outstretched towards him, "You stopped me!?" Racer was practically shaking with fury, "How could you stop me!?"

"Maybe you just go too fast for your own good." smirked Joshua as he rubbed the back of his head and rose to his feet. He then felt a fist hit him in the gut knocking the wind out of him.

"I think my speed is serving me just fine!" replied Racer as his leg arced in the air and swiftly kicked Joshua into a tree.

Racer charged forward, intent on landing the finishing blow. He then felt himself face plant once again, but not into an invisible wall. This time it was a really large log. Racer cried out in pain, his nose now clearly crooked on his face. He gripped his face with his hands and stopped his feet and he jumped around in pain.

"Slow and steady wins the race!" remarked Joshua as he slashed his sword across Racer's body catching the dark wizard off guard. The blow sent Racer careening across the ground and into the stream nearby.

"No," grumbled Racer as he rose to his feet. His goggle were cracked revealing lightly colored eyes glaring angrily at Joshua, "The fastest always win!" He saw Joshua giving him a quizzical look. "What the hell are you looking at?"

"But didn't the tortoise beat the hare?" asked Joshua.

"THAT'S A CHILDREN'S STORY!" roared an irritated Racer. He lowered his stance, "MAX SPEED!"

"Oh crap!"

Joshua felt Racer slam into him. Fist and feet hit Joshua from all directions as he couldn't keep up with the speed of Racer's attacks. He felt his rapier get kicked away from his hand before a fist hit him in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. Joshua dropped to his knees gasping for breath as Racer stood over him, snarling.

"You see, speed always wins." he muttered.

"Had your fun with him Racer?" said another person's voice. Racer looked over to see his comrade Cobra leaning up against a tree, his purple snake Cubellios hissing at him.

"I guess."

"Good, then get the girl and head for the hideout." ordered Cobra, "That's what Brain would want. I'll finish off the kid."

Racer nodded as he threw Wendy over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. "Don't go easy on him. The kid deserves a beating."

"Don't worry, he'll be in a world of pain once I'm through with him." said Cobra with an evil smile.

Racer nodded and took off. Joshua jumped to his feet.

"Wendy!" he shouted before he felt another fist hit him in the jaw. This one however, was much more powerful and painful.

"Pay attention to your enemy kid." smiled Cobra as he laid blow after blow on Joshua.

Joshua got hit again and flew into a tree, knocking the large plant over.

"Is that seriously all you got? Man, you Fairies are pathetic." scoffed Cobra.

Joshua shakily rose to his feet. He rubbed his jaw and cringed as the bruises on his body began to cause him pain.

"I gotta say. I didn't expect you guys to be this tough." replied Joshua. He spat some blood onto the ground and rotated his right arm, "But I'm just getting started."

"Oh really." Cobra focused his ears.

He started to hear the kid's thoughts. He wasn't focused, he was excited to fight. That was for sure. But he wasn't focused. He was worried about that Wendy girl as well as Titania. As he probed his thoughts he suddenly hit a wall which caused his ears to ring. Cobra grunted in pain and he scratched his right ear.

"The hell." he mumbled.

"Stay out of my head!" shouted Joshua angrily. "I've already had a geezer strolling through there I don't need a snake guy now too!"

"Geezer?" Cobra deadpanned. "Kid, how the heck did you make it so I couldn't hear your thoughts?"

Joshua shrugged causing Cobra's jaw to drop slightly and his eyes to twitch.

"Just kinda did it."

Cobra grit his teeth together. This kid was irritating. He had enough of this. He charged forward and threw a punch at Joshua. Joshua quickly dodged and smiled. He could get this guy.

A bad feeling took over Joshua as he saw a smirk emerge on Cobra's face. Why was he smirking? Joshua looked at him then his eyes widened.

The snake!

Fangs dug into Joshua's forearm as he leaned to the side and raised his arm instinctively, causing the snake to narrowly miss his neck and instead bite into his left arm. Joshua cried out in pain before bashing the snake on the head. The snake hissed and moved away, quickly slithering back around Cobra's shoulders. Joshua winced in pain and looked down at his left forearm to see the skin around the bite mark glowing purple.

"Oooh, you don't want a quick death?" laughed Cobra as he saw the results of the snake bite. Joshua glared at him before feeling his strength beginning to leave him. His legs buckled and he fell to one knee clutching his wounded arm.

"Sucks for you then." Cobra began to walk away, "Have fun dying the most painful death imaginable."

I can legitimately debate that. Thought Joshua as his internal organs began to burn a little, reminding him of the hole that was once in his abdomen. He cried out and doubled over his arm as the poison slowly spread around his arm, But yeah, this really hurts.

Joshua looked up ready to continue to fight Cobra but saw that the snake charmer was gone. He grit his teeth and angrily slammed his fist into the soft ground.

"DAMMIT!" he yelled before he bit his lip in pain once again.

"What happened?" Joshua looked over to see the white cat that came with Wendy finally coming to, "Where is Wendy!?" she exclaimed and then she looked over at Joshua and gave him a suspicious glare. "What did you do to her?"

"Me!" Joshua had about enough of this cat's attitude, "I only defended her as best as I could as two members of that damn dark guild attacked me! All the while you decided to take a snooze you damn cat!" Joshua winced, "And now I'm poisoned! So before you go giving me those glares of yours I just want to extend a gigantic fuck you to you as well." Joshua took a breath.

"You done?" asked the cat.

"Yeah." breathed Joshua before he felt a white paw smack him across the cheek. "The hell was that for!?"

"For throwing a childish temper tantrum." replied Carla calmly.

"I think I earned the right to a good tantrum!" grumbled Joshua.

"Then take it later." replied Carla, "Do you have any idea where they took Wendy?"

Joshua shook his head and Carla's face became filled with worry.

"You are lucky you have me nearby though cat." said Joshua.

"I'm lucky to have a ten year old toddler like you?"

"Shut up!" Joshua replied, "You're lucky because I can try to sense her out."

Carla's eyes widened. She had forgotten that this child was capable of that. "Well what are you waiting for then?" she asked as she saw the kid close his eyes.

"Would you be quiet for once!" snarled Joshua, "With this snake bite distracting me it's gonna take a lot more focus to pinpoint her." Carla closed her mouth and tapped her foot impatiently on the ground.

Joshua began to breath deeply. He started seeing the landscape around them. His senses extended further into the Worth Woodsea. He could see animals running around miles away from them. His senses went to a place that looked like a caldera drained of water except for a small pond fed by several streams. He focused in and felt Wendy's magical signature. Before he could look even further he felt the pain in his arm intensify. Joshua's sensory magic stopped and he yelled out in pain clutching his arm.

"Did you find her?"

"Sorta." Joshua through gritted teeth. Shrug it off. You've died before, this is nothing. More pain. DAMN IT ALL THIS HURTS!

"What does sort of mean?" asked Carla.

"It means I know the general location." Joshua took a deep breath before standing up, "But it's miles from here. It could take us a while to get there." He glanced at his arm. The poison was already spreading to his wrist and elbow, "And I don't have that kind of time."

"Well then," he felt the cat grab hold of his cloak from the back. He glanced back to see her wings spread, "It's a good thing we are going to go find Wendy then." she soared into the air, "Which way?"

Joshua winced again and pointed with his right arm, "That way."

Like a bullet being fired, Carla shot in the direction Joshua pointed. Joshua glanced up at the white cat.

"So, why am I lucky we are going to find Wendy?" he asked.

"Because child, Wendy is the Sky Dragon Slayer."

"SAY WHAT!" shouted Joshua before he grunted in pain again. "Ok," he breathed, "how does that help my arm situation?"

"Her magic is Sky magic. It gives her tremendous healing abilities. Including cleansing the body of all poisons."

Joshua's eyes widened, "Whoa. That's pretty neat."

"Indeed."

They flew silently for a few moments before Carla broke the silence.

"So you are from Fairy Tail?"

"Hm.. yeah. Why do you ask?"

"I heard about what happened a few weeks ago." Joshua's face darkened a little, "Did you participate in that craziness?"

Joshua shrugged. He preferred not to talk about that day.

"Well aren't you going to tell me?" demanded Carla.

"No." he said firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because Carla," Carla felt his muscles tense in her grip, "There…. There are some things that you just don't ask people to talk about."

Carla sighed. This child was a stubborn one. Why didn't he want to talk about it? Surely talking about a rough experience helped. Didn't it?

"I heard that Master Makarov banished his grandson."

"Yeah he did. Along with another guy named Freed."

"Freed?"

"He went along with Laxus's plans wholeheartedly." Joshua grit his teeth and clenched his right fist, "If I ever see those bastards again… I'll personally send them to hell."

"Why?" now she was getting somewhere.

Joshua was silent for a moment, "They made Erza cry." he said simply.

Carla was surprised by the answer. She was expecting a full blown speech about guild pride and unity. That's what those other Fairy Tail wizards cheered about all the time. But this child's reason was because they made the great Lady Erza cry. She saw Joshua's head snap up.

"We're here."

Carla looked ahead and saw a large caldera land formation dipping into the ground.

"Stay low and quiet." Joshua said quickly, "No telling who is down there."

"Right." replied Carla as she silently flew down into the Caldera.

She silently dropped Joshua onto the ground before landing beside him. She was about to ask him a question when she felt that strange sensation hit her again. The boy's eyes were closed and he seemed very calm. He then opened them and his head turned to a boarded up mining tunnel.

"Over there." he whispered. He then grunted and dropped to a knee holding his arm. Carla's eyes widened. The poison was already nearing his shoulder. Time was running out.

"How are you holding out like this?" Carla asked with wide eyes, "A normal person would have succumbed to that stuff already."

Joshua smirked and groaned as he rose to his feet again, "Cause my friends need me. And yes," he glanced down at Carla, "I consider Wendy a friend."

"But… but you hardly know her."

"So," shrugged Joshua as he quietly walked towards the mining shaft, "Doesn't mean I won't be friends with her."

He pressed his ear against the mining shaft and heard muffled voices from inside. He recognized two voices coming from within. One was definitely Racer, he couldn't wait to punch that guy into next week. The other though surprised Joshua. The second voice was that guy named Brain.

"Jura lost…" breathed a stunned Joshua.

"What?" gasped Carla.

Joshua was shaking a little, "No way, Jura… Jura is so strong. And he couldn't win." Joshua gulped, "Carla,"

"Yes."

"If we live through this, I'm gonna buy you a whole bag of catnip."

Carla looked at him revolted, "I hate catnip!" she shouted, "I prefer tea!"

She then felt Joshua clasp a hand over her mouth and tuck her into his arms before diving to the side of the tunnel. At first she was angry until she felt a rush of air. The racer guy was standing outside of the mine shaft peering around. Brain then stepped out as well. Joshua and Carla stayed completely silent as they stared at their backs.

"I thought I heard voices." said Brain as his staff dug into the earth.

"Me too." said Racer.

Joshua began to subtly creep towards the entryway.

We won't get in without them noticing. Observed Carla. She glanced up at Joshua as he tried to move faster but then he bit his lip in pain as he tried not to cry out. She glanced down the tunnel, If we live through this kid, I'll buy you all the food you want.

Carla then shout out of his arms. Joshua widened his eyes and was about to shout at her when she shouted down at Brain and Racer.

"Hey! Idiot and slowpoke!" she shouted before shaking her tail at them, "Can't catch me! Now I know where your secret base is!"

"After her Racer!" shouted Brain angrily.

Joshua widened his eyes, She was using herself as a distraction. What a clever cat. Joshua quickly snuck into the mine shaft and raced down the tunnel. As he got to the end he found a small desk illuminated with candles down the mineshaft. In front of the desk was a large coffin. In front of the coffin, smiling up at it happily was Wendy.

"Wendy!" Joshua whispered. The blue haired girl looked over at him and waved.

"You found me!" she said happily. Joshua was about to run forward and grab her when he saw a figure step out from the coffin.

Joshua stopped in his tracks. His heart went to his throat and anger surged to the surface. Standing there, in front of Wendy, was a blue haired man wearing a black muscle shirt and dark pants. He had blue hair and a tattoo around his right eye. Joshua glared hatefully at the man. The man looked back at him with a rather confused stare.

"You." Joshua snarled.

"Um.. do you and Jellal know each other?" asked Wendy.

Before Joshua could respond he heard the voice of Brain behind him.

"Indeed child they do." a pit formed in Joshua's stomach. "You see Wendy. Joshua once tried to kill Jellal."

"What!?" exclaimed a horrified Wendy.

"That's a filthy lie." he then looked up angrily at Jellal. Joshua then thought back to his fight with Jellal at the Tower of Heaven, "Alright half truth." Joshua admitted.

"But why?" asked a teary eyed Wendy, "Why would you try to kill someone like Jellal?"

Before Joshua could respond Brain answered for him, "Because, Joshua here is a very

dangerous wizard. Did you know he killed twenty two mages just a few months ago," Wendy looked at Joshua fearfully, "Using forbidden magic."

Joshua grit his teeth and glared at Brain, "I was cleared of those charges." he growled before he hissed in pain and grabbed his shoulder.

"Unfortunately." replied Brain, "You see Wendy. This boy is nothing more than a murderer who got off scot free." Wendy's teary eyes faded away as she looked at Joshua angrily, "What would a good mage from Cait Shelter do about him?" Brain smiled at Joshua triumphantly.

Wendy stood up, "You killed people and tried to kill someone as kind as Jellal."

"Kind as Jellal?" said Joshua with disbelief, "You have no idea what he did do you?"

"I won't believe anything you say!" shouted Wendy. She then got into a fighting stance. "But I will take you down."

Joshua sighed. This was not going as planned.

"In the name of the Cait Shelter guild, I will bring you to justice!"

Joshua felt power build up around the small blue haired girl. She placed her hands in front of her mouth and Brain smiled.

"Wendy don't do this!" shouted Joshua. "Brain is the enemy! Not me! Don't let him manipulate you!"

"I just helped you revive a long lost friend of yours." sneered Brain as he smirked at Joshua, "How does that make me an enemy?"

Wendy just glared at Joshua before taking a deep breath. Joshua's eyes widened and he outstretch his right palm gathering up his telekinetic magic. Wendy then stopped gathering air and squared up to Joshua.

"Sky Dragon… ROAR!"

Cliffhanger! Yup, leaving you guys on a cliffhanger! I'll have another chapter out soon. But it's late and I need to actually get some sleep tonight. Before I do I will explain a little bit as to why Wendy is attacking Joshua. In the anime and manga she had Happy there to warn her about how dangerous Jellal was. Here she doesn't. This means she thinks Jellal is still the same kind person she "knew". That makes her want to defend him from Joshua since, in her mind now, Joshua is one of the bad guys because he fought Jellal at the Tower of Heaven. Interesting huh? Anyways, what do you guys think will happen now? Let me know. As always I hope you guys enjoyed! Have a nice day!